Verrazano, Lukas Duo Out and About at CD on Monday

Verrazano galloped beneath the Twin Spires Monday during his first morning in Louisville, and the Wayne Lukas-trained duo of Will Take Charge and Oxbow were out as well after arriving late Sunday.

“Everything went perfectly,” trainer Todd Pletcher said of Verrazano. “He seemed to settle in really well overnight, and I thought he galloped very nicely over the track today.”

Verrazano won the Grade III Tampa Bay Derby prior to a 3/4-length victory in the Grade I Wood Memorial.

“We’ve gotten to this point with him as well as we could have hoped,” Pletcher said. “He’s maintained his condition really well and looks phenomenal. His appetite is good, and he’s moving well. We’re really pleased and we’re hoping for another 19 days of what we’re seeing right now.”

Pletcher said he's scheduled Verrazano and Grade II Louisiana Derby winner Revolutionary to breeze at Churchill Downs the next two Sunday's.

Pletcher said Overanalyze, Palace Malice and Charming Kitten, all of whom raced Saturday, are scheduled to work on April 28, six days before the Derby.

Mike Smith has been confirmed as the Derby jockey for Palace Malice.

Normandy Invasion

Normandy Invasion had less vigorous activity Monday for trainer Chad Brown after arriving with Verrazano.

“He came out of the Wood OK and arrived fine,” Brown said. “I just walked him this morning, but I’ll send him to the track tomorrow for the first time. He’ll work the next two weekends, depending on weather.”

Will Take Charge, Oxbow

After arriving at Churchill Downs from Oaklawn Park on Sunday evening, the D. Wayne Lukas-trained Will Take Charge and Oxbow were stabled in Barn 44 and got out on the track Monday.

“They got settled in and got around here good this morning,” Lukas said. “They got some of that bluegrass in them early and that will help them more than anything. We’ve got three weeks to tweak the situation a little bit, and then we’ll see what we can get done.”

Lukas said that Will Take Charge is scheduled to work twice in advance of the Derby, and Oxbow will have one work for sure but could work twice as well.

Lukas, who won the Kentucky Derby in 1988, 1995, 1996 and 1999, has started a record 45 horses in the Run for the Roses.

“The Derby is the Derby,” Lukas said. “People say that when you win one, it means less when you win a second one, but I think my enthusiasm is greater for it now after winning four of them. I enjoyed the fourth one more than the first one. The other thing is that you’re dealing with different people. I’ve got a different assistant and different clientele. You want to give them that experience.”